Air Liquide strengthens partnership with TotalEnergies through renewable H2 project in France
Air Liquide has announced a renewable hydrogen (H2) production project at La Mède (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France). In the context of a long-term contract, Air Liquide will cover the H2 needs of TotalEnergie's biorefinery. This project will contribute to the emergence of a new renewable H2 ecosystem in the Fos-sur-Mer area, a major industrial basin for Air Liquide in France.
In the framework of a long-term contract, Air Liquide will build, own and operate a new H2 production unit at TotalEnergies' La Mède site, with a capacity of 25,000 tonnes (t) per year. It will enable the production of renewable H2 from recycled biogenic byproducts from the TotalEnergies biorefinery, instead of using fossil hydrocarbons as feedstock. The renewable H2 produced will be used mainly by the biorefinery for the production of biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
This renewable H2 production unit, the largest on La Mède industrial platform, would represent an investment of over €80 MM for Air Liquide. Planned to be operational in 2028, it will significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the biorefinery, where TotalEnergies aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by around 130,000 tpy.
This project represents a new stage in the decarbonization of Air Liquide's H2 network production sources. It will help strengthen the Group's presence and capacity to meet current and future needs for decarbonized H2 in the Fos-sur-Mer area.
Furthermore, this project is in line with Air Liquide's commitment to supporting decarbonization initiatives launched by industrial partners locally. Air Liquide has been present in the region for over 50 years, and already operates three air separation units, a H2 production unit and a H2 network. In Fos-sur-Mer, for example, it operates Europe's first high-pressure H2 station for long-distance trucks.
Emilie Mouren-Renouard, member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee, notably supervising the Group’s operations in Europe, said: “We are proud to support TotalEnergies in its project to decarbonize the La Mède biorefinery, thanks to our strategic positioning in the Fos-sur-Mer basin. Two years after the announcement of the circular economy project in Grandpuits, and following on from our memorandum of understanding to supply TotalEnergies' Gonfreville refinery with renewable hydrogen from the Air Liquide Normand'Hy electrolyzer, we are continuing our partnership with TotalEnergies to serve the energy transition through the implementation of our decarbonization solutions.”
This project is in line with Air Liquide's strategy of offering its customers a wide range of decarbonization solutions, such as CO₂ capture and low-carbon H2, in response to the challenges posed by the climate emergency. This unique positioning and its technological expertise make Air Liquide a major player in the implementation of H2 projects to decarbonize industries and develop low-carbon mobility.
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